Extraordinary degree of difficulty

WBU to award early diploma to cancer-stricken 'fighter'

PLAINVIEW  What makes Donetta Stewart's academic achievements all the more special is that she's achieved high grades while battling leukemia.

The 23-year-old began this school year at Wayland Baptist University like most other students, except she went to class with a bag of morphine fastened around her waist.

With only 10 hours of class credits to complete before receiving a bachelor's degree in business administration, Stewart's goal of graduating is coming true a little early.

The university will award Stewart her diploma this morning at a special private ceremony on campus.

The university has a program that awards up to 12 hours of class credits to students who qualify for "life experiences." The credits often are given to students in the military who undergo specialized training, said Teresa Young, a public information officer with the university.

Stewart also qualified, Young said.

Otto B. Schacht, chairman for the division of business at Wayland, said he's had Stewart in a few classes and she never asked for special treatment because of her illness.

"She did her work, got it in on time and did well on her exams," he said. "She didn't ask for anything that any of the other students weren't getting."

He said she was determined to stay in school, and he supports the university's decision to award her a diploma early.

"That's been a goal for her and if we can assist her in that, get that behind her, I think that'd be great for her," Schacht said. "We wish we had a bunch more like her. She's a fighter."

Stewart grew up in Canyon and began at Wayland in 1995 after receiving a scholarship to play volleyball there.

"I started out on a volleyball scholarship, and that just sort of led me to my major," she said Friday. "I mainly decided to go with business because I know they had a good business program."

She said she's excited to receive her degree but "kind of wanted to stay a student."

Stewart was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia  a type of cancer  in March 2000.

She and her husband, Larry, have a 2-year-old daughter, Haven.

The couple met during a food fight in a Wayland cafeteria while Larry Stewart was still a student there, he said.

"She was throwing food at a friend of mine, and we all kind of got involved," he said. "She was throwing brown rice, and I threw creamed mashed potatoes at her."

It was the start of a happy romance, he said.

Larry Stewart, 26, who is the athletic director and a coach at Plainview Christian Academy, said his wife hopes to use her degree to get a job at a bank.

He said it took some convincing to get her to accept her diploma early because she wanted to continue attending classes. But, her illness has made it too difficult.

"She was hesitant at first because she wanted to achieve it herself, but she was excited about it also," he said. He said his wife held a 4.0 grade point average the last three semesters, all while taking chemotherapy treatments.

"My wife, she's a fighter," he said. "Her doctors didn't expect her to live three weeks ago. We're still waiting for God to have that miracle for her."

He said his wife is not a person who gives up easily.

"She still has a goal of working with that degree that she's going to earn, and I wouldn't be surprised at all if she achieves that goal," he said.

"Donetta's my best friend. I just can't ever see her not achieving something that she wants to regardless of what's in front of her."